The exchange you are asking about takes place in Chapter 14. At this point in the story, Atticus has agreed to defend Tom Robinson in his rape trial, and tensions are beginning to rise in Maycomb. Aunt Alexandra has just come to live with Atticus and the children, apparently indefinitely. She says she wants to be a good feminine influence on Jean Louis (Scout), who will soon be expected to act like a lady. It's also possible Aunt Alexandra wants to protect and guide Atticus and the children through the trial. Aunt Alexandra definitely wants to instill her sense of propriety and her snobbery about being a Finch into the children.
Meanwhile, Scout wishes to visit Calpurnia, Atticus's black maid, at her house some weekend. She asks Atticus's permission, in the process revealing she and Jem attended Calpurnia's church a few weeks ago.
Aunt Alexandra is shocked and immediately forbids Scout from going to Calpurnia's house. Atticus backs his sister up, which forces Scout to obey her, but Scout overhears Atticus and Alexandra discuss the matter once she leaves the room.
Alexandra thinks Atticus and Calpurnia (who has effectively raised Scout) have done a bad job of raising Scout and left Scout too wild. She does not want Calpurnia to influence Scout. Now that Alexandra is living there, she argues Atticus can and should fire Calpurnia.
Atticus refuses. He offers three reasons:
- Calpurnia is a "faithful member of the family" who has been with him and the children for years.
- It would not be so easy for Aunt Alexandra to take over Calpurnia's duties: "We still need Cal as much as we ever did."
- Calpurnia has actually done quite a good job raising the children, not indulging them but being "harder on them in some ways than a mother would have been... and another thing, the children love her."
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